The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-20

other occupants of the house, and that was
one morning when he crawled out to the
| hydrant, or sink, in the hall to get some
water to drink. Many a time the kind
hearted women in the house essayed to fetch
him something TO eat, but on all occasions
he would keep the door locked and decline
all nourishment
Naturally his mode of living resulted in
Slckenlng odorS emanatng from his rooms
and pervading the whole house. The occu-
pants repeatedly made efforts to get into
his room, but in vain, until at last they
notified the police. Roundsman Flanagan
visited the place Saturday. but was denied
admission, and the following day he again
went there, accompanied by several officers.
They were about to force open the door
when the key turned, a couple of bolts We're
them, looking for all the world like an appa-
rition of Rip Van Wrinkle
When he beheld the officers in uniform he
quaked from head to foot. whined like a
child and staggered backward towards a
big battered trunk. He fell upon his knees
and Rugged the trunk, exclaiming, in a
feeble and gutteral voice:
What do you want here? You can't
come i'll here, This is mine, all miner
Then he became more composed as he no.
tlced the peaceful intentions of the officers
and fell upon the floor. He soon recovered.
however, and in answer to the officers
questions said that he was not starving, and
that he had all he wished and money too.
To prove this last assertion he pulled from
corner of the trunk roll of bank notes and
also several bank books which he flourished
III the officers face, but quickly hid them
again. Seeing that the man was not in need
of funds, the officers withdrew and told the
residents that they could do nothing. Last
evening Mrs. McArdle went to police head
quarters and reported the case to the health
authorities, who will make an investigation
to-day, and the old miser, who is almost a
corpse, will be removed to the hospital
The reporter last night visited the place.
Strangely enough the door was open but
the room was dark. A lamp was borrowed,
and strange sight greeted the eyes of the
visitors. On an old chair near the door sat
the man bolt upright and fast asleep. He
wore only a filthy shirt and pair OF duck
trousers. The long, gaunt and blac; fin
gers of his hands were intertwined and
rested in his lap, and he looked as il rim
death had already claimed him Several
LIQUIDS calls and stamps upon the floor failed
to awaken him, and he only opened his eyes
widely on being rudely shaken by the
shoulders.
''What do you want? Robbers! Murder!
Go out! Leave me alonel It's all miner
he exclaimed in rapid succession. But he
could not move from his chair Beside him
was board on barrel serving as table.
On this were glass half full Of stale beer,
a little old kerosene lamp without Oil or
chimney and a few dirty kitchen utensils
The floor was bare and dirty. The only
other furniture in the room was an old
lounge, ali antiquated clock on the wall, and
huge trunk in which he is supposed to
have his treasure. In closet was a dirty
mattress on the floor, with a box under it
e.. Al Al. I
In this closet was another large trunk that
was locked, strapped and bound many
times with rope.
When the visitors entered these rooms the
old miser was almost beside himself, Screech-
ing and gesticulating, and making signs for
them TO leave, which they were glad to do
after hasty glance.
For number of years before coming to
his present howell he lived at No. 1913 Sheriff
street with family named Matthews, At
that time he was employed as a salesman in
the coffee and tea warehouse of B. Fischer
d Co., 1873 to 1877 Duane street, with whom
he was for twenty-five, years until recently
He made a great deal of money on commits
sions and saved it all He frequently spoke
to them of his past, saying he came from
WleSbaden, Germany, many years ago,
leaving his wife and two daughters behind.
They were all wealthy, as were also his own
family but he had to leave the country.
why, he would not tell. During the civil
war he ihtimated that he was regular
bounty jumper" from which source he
amassed about $40, 1000. All this he saved,
and most of it is invested in bonds. Some
five or six years ago he boosted that he had
enough for life; but of late, becoming old and
not so successful as formerly, he imagined
he was going to become poor, and began de-
priving himself of all nourishmtnt Three
times week he would call up some chill
dren and give them 10c. with which to get
a quart of lager beer. This he kept in a
stone pitcher and set it in bucket of water
to keep cool, and would drink mouthful
or two occasionally. This was all the nour-
ishment that passed his mouth for many
weeks. He always paid his rent, however,
which was So a month, but gr'udgingly, say
ing he would move to cheaper quarters,
but was afraid he might lose some of his
things. On several occasions Mrs. McArdle,
and others who CHANGED to peep into the
room, saw the old miser counting over
bonds and money. They saw him cropping
around corners of the room, and under the
trunks and mattress and feeling with
broomstick under the floor, which had
holes, while he patted the sides of tho room
with his hands. 1t is supposed that he has
money hidden in many little out of the way
places, and those who know him best esti-
mate that he he has all the way from
$40, 900 to 100000.